CPF BC & Yukon Chapter Representatives,

As always please forward this important information to your local chapter mailing lists, school contacts, local media, and partners. We encourage you to include additional stories and activities from your local chapter. One of the best ways to promote membership and recruit new volunteers is by effectively communicating the good work of our organization (at all levels) and the many resources available to support students and parents. 

There is important information in every CRU so manke sure you read them and pass the info on at your meetings!

*Check out our flickr account for more Concours pictures*

À bientôt,                                                                                                              

Kirsty Peterson,CPF BC & Yukon Outreach Officer (outreach@cpf.bc.ca)

Oceanside - Hosted their first "Festival de la Poutine" cultural event. Students loved this event and looks like CPF Oceanside Chapter is getting good use of their outdoor banner!

Nanaimo - Kirsty Peterson (Chapter Support & Outreach) visited some parents and district staff in Nanaimo, on the day after the district decided to go ahead with Late French Immersion in their district. Both parents and the district alike are excited to start a CPF Nanaimo Chapter!

Sooke - Kirsty met with parents in Sooke, where the creation of a single track school has gotten parents attention. While this chapter was formerly struggling for a lack of volunteers, it looks like a new executive is about to form, and will be trained and supported by the current President who is moving into an advisory 'Past President" role.

Surrey - Parents have called an open meeting and invited the school district and board to discuss French Immersion options for parents, given that there is a significant waitlist for next year.

Branch - Kirsty and Diane Tijman (CPF BC & YK Vice President) attended and Glyn Lewis (Executive Director), in partnership with Remi Marien from CJFFCB presented at the BC School Trustees Association AGM and Conference. We met with many past CPF Chapter Leaders who went on and became local school board trustees! 

Chapters all across BC held their district competitions last month, Kirsty had the opportunity to speak at the Richmond and North Vancouver districts and thanks to Kamloops for sending in your pictures!!

Did you know??

• Your Chapter must provide a minumum of 14 days notice to all members prior to hosting your Annual General Meeting (AGM) according to your bylaws? If you need an updated membership list, please email Kirsty at outreach@cpf.bc.ca, three (3) weeks prior to your AGM date.
• If your Chapter's reporting is not up-to-date, the Branch cannot release your deposits
• Have questions about your Chapter AGM? The Bylaws? Chapter Reporting? Please feel free to email (outreach@cpf.bc.ca) or call me Monday - Friday at the office (Phone: 778.329.9115 ext 315 Toll Free: 1.800.665.1222). I'm here to help! 

10,000 students from across British Columbia competed, 285 made the provincial finals, and 69 students across BC took home top awards in this year's pan-provincial French public speaking competition, Concours d'art oratoire.

This year marked the 31st anniversary of the Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon sponsored Concours d'art oratoire. The provincial finals were hosted Saturday, May 3rd at SFU Surrey.

"In addition to the cultural and language benefits, Concours d'art oratoire helps students develop their creative and public speaking abilities, as well as self-confidence," said Patti Holm, President of Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon.

"It's an incredible feat to make it to the Provincial finals -- taking home a medal is a real achievement. We congratulate everyone who participated; they are all winners. Félicitations!" added Concours d'art oratoire chief judge, Dr. Renée Hamilton-Clark.

Here is a short video from last year's provincial competition. We thank the BC Ministry of Education and Canadian Heritage for their financial support of the CPF BC & YK organized Concours d'art oratoire.

Download the Winner's List here

You can find all the official photos from this year's event on the CPF BC & YT Flickr account

Are you interested in being part of a dynamic team?

If you value French as an integral part of Canada and if you are dedicated to providing opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French, we need you!

Can you offer these skills?

• You enjoy working on the big picture
• You are innovative and responsive
• You can respectfully share your views
• You work well independently and as part of a team
• You are a good communicator
• You have a love for languages and an awareness of FSL issues
• You are comfortable with computers and have access to email

Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch is seeking interested and enthusiastic CPF members to join our Branch Board of Directors.  Directors are elected for either one or two-year terms and are responsible for supporting the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.

Board Director positions are voluntary and travel is required. Reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed. The Board of Directors meets in person at least four times a year; other meetings occur by teleconference.

You may nominate yourself or someone you know, with their permission.

In accordance with the current Branch Bylaws, interested candidates must express interest in one of the following available positions:

President (2 Year Term)

Yukon Director (2 Year Term) -- Must be a resident of the Yukon.

Youth Director (2 Year Term) -- Must be 18 years or older as of Oct 19th, 2014.

All candidates must apply by sending a cover letter and résumé to:

Greer Cummings, Nominations Committee Chair
CPF BC & Yukon Branch
#227 – 1555 7th Avenue.,
Vancouver, BC V6J 1S1

Or by email: gcummings@cpf.bc.ca

Deadline for applications is 31 May 2014

This and other volunteer opportunities can be found on our website under: Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

CPF invites you to join us for the 2014 Conference and Annual General Meeting as we gather together to share ideas, best practices and CPF success stories.

The conference, scheduled for October 16-19, 2014, will be held in Ottawa, Ontario at the Delta Ottawa City Centre.

Please fill out the registration package which contains full details to assist you in your planning. Note, forms can be filled out electronically but you may choose to fill it out however you prefer.

Early Bird registration is open now until July 31, 2014. Registrations must be received by September 12, 2014 after which late registration fees will apply. Registrations received after October 1, 2014 will be subject to space permitting and will be responsible for their own travel costs.

**Please make sure to read this BC & Yukon specific delegate information. Merci!**

Join CPF in honoring volunteers who have made a difference! Recognize an outstanding volunteer in the community and participate in CPF’s biennial award. The national CPF Volunteer Award will be presented at this years’ Annual General Meeting 2014 to a volunteer who has shown exemplary service to Canadian Parents for French. To nominate an individual, we ask that you “paint a picture” of your nominee’s achievements by completing the CPF Volunteer Award Nomination Package available for download online or through your Branch/Chapter office. An effective nomination package will illustrate the outstanding achievements of the nominee as well as explain why you believe that your nominee should receive this great honor. This is one of the top honors given by CPF, and an important way to acknowledge the ongoing efforts and significant contributions of all our CPF volunteers over the years. For more information and to download the CPF Volunteer Award Package please visit www.cpf.ca or contact Maryanne Bright at 613-235-1481 extension 226 or mbright@cpf.ca.

Submission deadline is September 14, 2014. 

Learn to make your own comic strip! En francais!

Each student will create their own comic strip. The purpose is that the student knows the basics of comicstrips.

Recommended age: 7 years and older.

For more information see What's New on our website

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French Consulates in Canada are pleased to announce the release of francecanadaculture.org, the new reference platform for French culture in Canada. francecanadaculture.org is a unique portal offering simple, subject-specific, and geo-localized access to all of the news and information available about artistic exchanges, French-language events, and academic cooperation. This shared bilingual (French and English) display will provide increased visibility and Atlantic-Pacific connections, as well as a greater number of pan-Canadian exchanges.